Miniaturized electrochemical sensors and their point-of-care applications

Most of the current analytical methods depend largely on laboratory-based analytical techniques that require expensive and bullky equipment,potentially incur costly testing,and involve lengthy detection processes.With increasing requirements for point-of-care testing(POCT),more attention has been paid to miniaturized analytical devices.Miniaturized electrochemical(MEC)sensors,including different material-based MEC sensors(such as DNA-,paper-,and screen electrode-based),have been in strong demand in analytical science due to their easy operation,portability,high sensitivity,as well as their short analysis time.They have been applied for the detection of trace amounts of target through measuring changes in electrochemical signal,such as current,voltage,potential,or impedance,due to the oxidation/reduction of chemical/biological molecules with the help of electrodes and electrochemical units.MEC sensors present great potential for the detection of targets including small organic molecules,metal ions,and biomolecules.In recent years,MEC sensors have been broadly applied to POCT in various fields,including health care,food safety,and environmental monitoring,owing to the excellent advantages of electrochemical(EC)technologies.This review summarized the state-of-the-art advancements on various types of MEC sensors and their applications in POCT.Furthermore,the future perspectives,opportunities,and challenges in this field are also discussed.     

Machine Learning towards Screening Solid-state Lithium Ion Conductors

Machine learning is an emerging method to discover new materials with specific characteristics.An unsupervised machine learning research is highlighted to discover new potential lithium ionic conductors by screening and clustering lithium compounds,providing inspirations for the development of solid-state electrolytes and practical batteries.     

Surface defect-rich ceria quantum dots anchored on sulfur-doped carbon nitride nanotubes with enhanced charge separation for solar hydrogen production

Designing defect-engineered semiconductor heterojunctions can effectively promote the charge carrier separation.Herein,novel ceria(CeO2) quantum dots(QDs) decorated sulfur-doped carbon nitride nanotubes(SCN NTs) were synthesized via a thermal polycondensation coupled in situ depositionprecipitation method without use of template or surfactant.The structure and morphology studies indicate that ultrafine CeO2 QDs are well distributed inside and outside of SCN NTs offering highly dispersed active sites and a large contact interface between two components.This leads to the promoted formation of rich Ce³⁺ ion and oxygen vacancies as confirmed by XPS.The photocatalytic performance can be facilely modulated by the content of CeO2 QDs introduced in SCN matrix while bare CeO2 does not show activity of hydrogen production.The optimal catalyst with 10% of CeO2 loading yields a hydrogen evolution rate of 2923.8 μmol h-1 g-1 under visible light,remarkably higher than that of bare SCN and their physical mixtures.Further studies reveal that the abundant surface defects and the created 0 D/1 D junctions play a critical role in improving the separation and transfer of charge carriers,leading to superior solar hydrogen production and good stability.     

Superfast and solvent-free core-shell assembly of sulfur/carbon active particles by hail-inspired nanostorm technology for high-energy-density Li-S batteries

The demand on low-carbon emission fabrication technologies for energy storage materials is increasing dramatically with the global interest on carbon neutrality.As a promising active material for metal-sulfur batteries,sulfur is of great interest due to its high-energy-density and abundance.However,there is a lack of industry-friendly and low-carbon fabrication strategies for high-performance sulfur-based active particles,which,however,is in critical need by their practical success.Herein,based on a hail-inspired sulfur nano-storm(HSN)technology developed in our lab,we report an energy-saving,solvent-free strategy for producing core-shell sulfur/carbon electrode particles(CNT@AC-S)in minutes.The fabrication of the CNT@AC-S electrode particles only involves low-cost sulfur blocks,commercial carbon nanotubes(CNT)and activated carbon(AC)micro-particles with high specific surface area.Based on the above core-shell CNT@AC-S particles,sulfur cathode with a high sulfur-loading of 9.2 mg cm^-2 delivers a stable area capacity of 6.6 mAh cm^-2 over 100 cycles.Furthermore,even for sulfur cathode with a super-high sulfur content(72 wt%over the whole electrode),it still delivers a high area capacity of 9 mAh cm^-2 over50 cycles in a quasi-lean electrolyte condition.In a nutshell,this study brings a green and industryfriendly fabrication strategy for cost-effective production of rationally designed S-rich electrode particles.     

Unraveling the stabilization mechanism of solid electrolyte interface on ZnSe by rGO in sodium ion battery

Transition metal selenides have been widely studied as anode materials of sodium ion batteries(SIBs),however,the investigation of solid-electrolyte-interface(SEI)on these materials,which is critical to the electrochemical performance of SIBs,remains at its infancy.Here in this paper,ZnSe@C nanoparticles were prepared from ZIF-8 and the SEI layers on these electrodes with and without reduced graphene oxide(rGO)layers were examined in details by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies at varied charged/discharged states.It is observed that fast and complicated electrolyte decomposition reactions on ZnSe@C leads to quite thick SEI film and intercalation of solvated sodium ions through such thick SEI film results in slow ion diffusion kinetics and unstable electrode structure.However,the presence of rGO could efficiently suppress the decomposition of electrolyte,thus thin and stable SEI film was formed.ZnSe@C electrodes wrapped by rGO demonstrates enhanced interfacial charge transfer kinetics and high electrochemical performance,a capacity retention of 96.4%,after 1000 cycles at 5 A/g.This study might offer a simple avenue for the designing high performance anode materials through manipulation of SEI film.     

CXN天然沸石的研究2: 吸附性质

采用N~2,NH~3,CO~2,乙烯,丙烯,水,甲醇,乙醇,丙醇等作为吸附剂,研究了由我国CXN天然沸石改性制得的H-STI和Na-STI沸石的吸附性质,H-STI和Na-STI沸石的BET表面积及微孔孔体积约为420m^2/g和0.20m^3/g。根据NH~3和CO~2在H-STI沸石上的吸附等温线计算得到它们的吸附热分别为44.8和26.5kJ/mol。乙烯,丙烯,甲醇,乙醇,丙醇等在Na-STI沸石上的吸附等温线表明该沸石对有机分子的吸附具有链长选择性。在低分压下水相对于甲醇的吸附量表明沸石具有一定的疏水性质。     

常温常湿条件下Au/MeO~x催化剂上CO氧化性能

利用共沉淀法制备了Au/MeO~x催化剂(Me=Al,Co,Cr,Cu,Fe,Mn,Ni,Zn)。在常温常湿条件下,考察了不同氧化物负载的金基催化剂的CO氧化性能。结果表明,氧化物种类对催化剂的活性和稳定性均有较大的影响。Cu,Mn,Cr等氧化物负载的金基催化剂的活性较差,而Zn,Fe,Co,Ni,Al等金属氧化物负载的金基催化剂可将CO完全氧化,又具有一定的稳定性,在相同反应条件下,CO完全转化时的稳定性顺序为Au/ZnO>Au/α-Fe~2O~3>Au/Co~3O~4>Au/γ-Al~2O~3≈Au/NiO。还发现水对Au/MnO~x催化剂的活性和稳定性有负作用,而对180℃焙烧制备的Au/ZnO-180催化剂的活性和稳定性均有明显的湿度增强作用。     

Boost oxygen reduction reaction performance by tuning the active sites in Fe-N-P-C catalysts

Cost-effective atomically dispersed Fe-N-P-C complex catalysts are promising to catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and replace Pt catalysts in fuel cells and metal-air batteries.However,it remains a challenge to increase the number of atomically dispersed active sites on these catalysts.Here we report a highly efficient impregnation-pyrolysis method to prepare effective ORR electrocatalysts with large amount of atomically dispersed Fe active sites from biomass.Two types of active catalyst centers were identified,namely atomically dispersed Fe sites and Fe_xP particles.The ORR rate of the atomically dispersed Fe sites is three orders of magnitude higher than it of Fe_xP particles.A linear correlation between the amount of the atomically dispersed Fe and the ORR activity was obtained,revealing the major contribution of the atomically dispersed Fe to the ORR activity.The number of atomically dispersed Fe increases as the Fe loading increased and reaching the maximum at 1.86 wt%Fe,resulting in the maximum ORR rate.Optimized Fe-N-P-C complex catalyst was used as the cathode catalyst in a homemade Zn-air battery and good performance of an energy density of 771 Wh kgZn^-1,a power density of 92.9 m W cm^-2 at 137 m A cm^-2 and an excellent durability were exhibited.     

Regulation of carbon distribution to construct high-sulfur-content cathode in lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S)battery is regarded as one of the most promising next-generation energy storage systems due to the ultra-high theoretical energy density of 2600 Wh kg^-1.To address the insulation nature of sulfur,nanocarbon composition is essential to afford acceptable cycling capacity but inevitably sacrifices the actual energy density under working conditions.Therefore,rational structural design of the carbon/sulfur composite cathode is of great significance to realize satisfactory electrochemical performances with limited carbon content.Herein,the cathode carbon distribution is rationally regulated to construct high-sulfur-content and high-performance Li-S batteries.Concretely,a double-layer carbon(DLC)cathode is prepared by fabricating a surface carbon layer on the carbon/sulfur composite.The surface carbon layer not only provides more electrochemically active surfaces,but also blocks the polysulfide shuttle.Consequently,the DLC configuration with an increased sulfur content by nearly 10 wt%renders an initial areal capacity of 3.40 mAh cm^-2 and capacity retention of 83.8%during 50 cycles,which is about two times than that of the low-sulfur-content cathode.The strategy of carbon distribution regulation affords an effective pathway to construct advanced high-sulfur-content cathodes for practical high-energy-density Li-S batteries.     

Confined Ni-In intermetallic alloy nanocatalyst with excellent coking resistance for methane dry reforming

Carbon dioxide and methane are two main greenhouse gases which are contributed to serious global warming.Fortunately,dry reforming of methane(DRM),a very important reaction developed decades ago,can convert these two major greenhouse gases into value-added syngas or hydrogen.The main problem retarding its industrialization is the seriously coking formation upon the nickel-based catalysts.Herein,a series of confined indium-nickel(In-Ni)intermetallic alloy nanocatalysts(In_xNi@SiO₂)have been prepared and displayed superior coking resistance for DRM reaction.The sample containing 0.5 wt.%of In loading(In_0.5Ni@SiO₂)shows the best balance of carbon deposition resistance and DRM reactivity even after 430 h long term stability test.The boosted carbon resistance can be ascribed to the confinement of core–shell structure and to the transfer of electrons from Indium to Nickel in In-Ni intermetallic alloys due to the smaller electronegativity of In.Both the silica shell and the increase of electron cloud density on metallic Ni can weaken the ability of Ni to activate C–H bond and decrease the deep cracking process of methane.The reaction over the confined InNi intermetallic alloy nanocatalyst was conformed to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood(L-H)mechanism revealed by in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy(in-situ DRIFTS).This work provides a guidance to design high performance coking resistance catalysts for methane dry reforming to efficiently utilize these two main greenhouse gases.     

Heat capacities of NaNO3 and KNO3 from 350 to 800 K

The heat capacities of NaNO₃ and KNO₃ were determined from 350 to 800 K by differential scanning calorimetry. Solid-solid transitions and melting were observed at 550 and 583 K for NaNO₃ and 406 and 612 K for KNO₃, respectively. The entropies associated with the solid-solid transitions were measured to be (8.43± 0.25) J K⁻¹ mole⁻¹ for NaNO₃ and (13.8±0.4) J K⁻¹ mole⁻¹ for KNO₃. At 298.15 K the values of C⁰_P S⁰_P, {H⁰(T)-H⁰(0)}/T and -{G⁰(T)-H⁰(0)}/T, respectively, are 91.94, 116.3, 57.73, and 58.55 J K⁻¹ mole⁻¹ for NaNO₃ and 95.39, 133.0, 62.93, and 70.02 J K⁻¹ mole⁻¹ for KNO₃. Values for S⁰_T, {H⁰(T)-H⁰(0)}/T, and -{G⁰(T)-H⁰(0)}/T were calculated and tabulated from 15 to 800 K for NaNO₃ and KNO₃.     

1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑丙氨酸离子液体热力学性质的研究

用中和法合成了氨基酸离子液体1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑丙氨酸([C₂mim][Ala]),并利用恒温环境的溶解反应热量计,在(288.15±0.01) K-(308.15±0.01) K温度范围内每隔5 K,测定不同质量摩尔浓度离子液体在水中的溶解焓(Δ_solH_m^θ).根据Archer的方法,通过线性拟合得到了该离子液体的标准摩尔溶解焓(Δ_sol),并计算了其相对表观摩尔溶解焓(^ΦL).在298.15 K下,根据Glasser经验方法得到了格子能U_POT = 566 kJ·mol^-1,并计算了其阴阳离子水化焓值(ΔH⁺ + ΔH^-) = -620 kJ·mol^-1及阴离子水化焓ΔH^-([Ala]^-) = -387 kJ·mol^-1.此外,估算了[C₂mim][Ala]水溶液的热容(C_p(sol))和表观摩尔热容(^ΦC_p).     

合成黑索今中副产物3, 5-二硝基-1-氧-3, 5-二氮杂环己烷的晶体结构及热分解动力学

直接法硝解乌洛托品制备黑索今的过程中合成了一种新型的环形副产物,采用硅胶柱层析法分离得到3, 5-二硝基-1-氧-3, 5-二氮杂环己烷,洗脱剂为:丙酮/二氯甲烷,梯度洗脱.以丙酮为溶剂培养得到了3, 5-二硝基-1-氧-3, 5-二氮杂环己烷单晶,用元素分析、傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱、核磁共振氢谱(NMR)以及质谱(MS)对其结构进行了表征,用X射线单晶衍射仪测定了其晶体结构.结果表明,晶体C₃H₆N₄O₅分子量为178.12,属于单斜晶系,空间群P121/n1,晶胞参数: a = 0.58128(13) nm, b = 1.72389(14) nm, c = 0.71072(6) nm, β =112.056°, V = 0.66006(16) nm³, Z = 4, D_C= 1.792 g·cm^-3, μ = 0.17 mm^-1, F(000) = 368.0,最终偏差因子R =0.0397.用同步热分析仪技术研究了3, 5-二硝基-1-氧-3, 5-二氮杂环己烷的热行为, DSC曲线上在383.15和519.05 K分别有一个尖锐的熔化吸热峰和分解放热峰.另外,根据Kissinger方程及Flynn-Wall-Ozawa方程和不同升温速率下的TG曲线计算得到了该化合物的热分解动力学参数(活化能和指前因子),利用Coats-Redfern法研究了该物质的热分解机理.结果表明: 3, 5-二硝基-1-氧-3, 5-二氮杂环己烷是一种低熔点、热稳定性好的化合物. Kissinger方程计算其活化能为212.32 kJ·mol^-1,指前因子为6.20×10²⁰ s^-1, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa方程计算其活化能为210.39 kJ·mol^-1,该物质的热分解动力学方程为G(α) = (1-α)^-1-1,反应级数为2.     

桑色素与血清白蛋白相互作用热力学行为

利用荧光光谱、紫外-可见吸收光谱、圆二色谱、分子模拟等方法,在近似生理条件下,以牛血清白蛋白(BSA)为模式蛋白质,研究了桑色素(Morin)和血清白蛋白相互作用的热力学行为及其特征。荧光光谱结果表明:Morin能有效猝灭BSA的内源荧光,猝灭机制为静态猝灭;通过van’t Hoff方程,获取了BSA与Morin结合的热力学参数(?H?、?S?、?G?等),发现Morin与BSA两者之间的相互作用是一个吉布斯自由能降低的自发过程,且氢键和范德华力是二者结合的驱动力。通过分子模拟方法,发现Morin结合在BSA分子亚结构域IIIA的疏水腔内位点II,荧光共振能量转移结果表明Morin和与BSA的两个色氨酸残基的平均距离为3.09nm。圆二色谱结果表明Morin分子的结合会引起BSA分子α-螺旋含量降低。     

Non-isothermal Decomposition Kinetics of K(AHDNE)

The thermal behavior and non-isothermal decomposition kinetics of 1-amino-1-hydrazino-2,2-dinitro- ethylene potassium salt[K(AHDNE)] were studied under the non-isothermal conditions by different scanning calorimeter(DSC) method. The thermal behavior of K(AHDNE) presents three exothermic decomposition processes. The kinetic equation of the first thermal decomposition reaction obtained is dα/dT=(10^19.63/β)3(1-α)[-ln(1-α)]^2/3exp(-1.862× 10⁵/RT). The self-accelerating decomposition temperature(T_SADT) and critical temperature of thermal explosion(T_b) of K(AHDNE) are 162.5 and 171.4 ℃, respectively. K(AHDNE) has higher thermal stability than AHDNE.     

Synthesis, characterization and thermal investigation of M[M(C2O4)3]·xH2O (x=4 for M=Cr(III); x=2 for M=Sb(III) and x=9 for M=La(III))

The complexes, M[M(C₂O₄)₃]·xH₂ O, where x=4 for M=Cr(III), x=2 for M=Sb(III) and x=9 for M=La(III) have been synthesized and their thermal stability was investigated. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and electronic spectral data, conductivity measurement and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The chromium(III)tris(oxalato)chromate(III)tetrahydrate (COT), Cr[Cr(C₂ O₄)₃]·4H₂O, released water in a stepwise fashion. Removal of the last trace of water was accompanied by a partial decomposition of the oxalate group. Thermal investigation using TG, DTG and DTA techniques in air produced Cr₂O₃ at 858°C through the intermediate formation of Cr₂O₃ and CrC₂O₄ at around 460°C. While DSC study in nitrogen up to 670°C produced a mixture of Cr₂O₃ and CrC₂O₄. In antimony(III)tris(oxalato)antimonate(III)dihydrate (AOD), Sb[Sb(C₂O₄)₃]·3H₂O the dehydration took place during the decomposition of precursor at 170–290°C and finally at ca. 610°C Sb₂ O₅ along with trace amounts of Sb₂O₄ were produced. Trace amount of Sb₂O₃ and Sb along with Sb₂O is proposed as the end product at 670°C of AOD in nitrogen. The oxide La₂O₃ is formed at 838°C from the study with TG, DTG and DTA in air of lanthanum(III)tris(oxalato)lanthanum(III)nonahydrate (LON), La[La(C₂O₄)₃]·9H₂O. Intermediate dioxycarbonate, La₂O₂CO₃ was generated at 526°C prior to its decomposition to lanthanum oxide in air; whereas in N₂ the formation of La₂(CO₃)₃ at 651°C was proposed. The thermal parameters have been evaluated for each step of the dehydration and decomposition of COT, AOD and LON using five non-mechanistic equations i.e. Flynn and Wall, Freeman and Carroll, Modified Freeman and Carroll, Coats–Redfern and MacCallum–Tanner equations. Kinetic parameters, such as, E^*, k_o, ΔH^*, ΔS^* etc. were also supplemented by DSC studies in nitrogen for all the three complexes. Some of the intermediate species have been identified by analytical and powder XRD studies. Tentative schemes has been proposed for the decomposition of all three compounds in air and nitrogen.     

聚羟基丁酸-戊酸的非等温热分解反应动力学

用非等温TG-DTA技术, 在5.0、10.0、15.0和20.0 K•min^-1线性升温条件下, 研究聚羟基丁酸-戊酸(PHBV)的热分解反应动力学. 结果表明, 分解过程分三个阶段：分解初期、分解中期和分解后期. 分解初期的机理函数为Avrami-Erofeev方程(n=1/2), 对应随机成核和随后生长机理, 表观活化能E_a(β→0)为69.44 kJ•mol^-1, 指前因子A(β→0)为106.27 s^-1；分解中期的机理函数为Avrami-Erofeev方程(n =2/5), 对应随机成核和随后生长机理, 表观活化能Ea(β→0)为117.64 kJ•mol^-1, 指前因子A(β→0)为10^11.48 s^-1；分解后期的机理函数为Mampel Power法则(n=1/3), 对应机理为幂函数法则, 表观活化能Ea(β→0)为116.64 kJ•mol^-1, 指前因子A(β→0)为10^8.68 s^-1.     

Study of initiation reactivity of some plastic explosives by vacuum stability test and non-isothermal differential thermal analysis

On the basis of measurements of 18 high explosives by means of the Czech Vacuum Stability Test (VST) STABIL, a relationship has been specified between the results of this test and those of Russian manometric method. The said relationship was used to predict the Arrhenius parameters (E_a and log A values) of four plastic explosives based on RDX and one high explosive based on PETN (Semtex). The slopes E_aR⁻¹ of Kissinger's equation were specified by means of non-isothermal differential thermal analysis (DTA) and evaluation of the measurement results by means of the Kissinger method. The role played by binders and plasticizers in thermal decomposition of nitramines was pointed out on the basis of relationship between the E_a values obtained from VST and the E_aR⁻¹ values obtained from DTA, both for plastic explosives, eight nitramines, Composition B and PETN. The relationships between the E_aR⁻¹ values and thermostability threshold was specified for the given group of explosives. The relationship classify some of the studied plastic explosives as belonging to nitramines with steric hindrance in the molecule (CPX, TNAZ and HNIW). The relationship between E_aR⁻¹ values and drop energies, E_dr, sharply differentiates between plastic explosives and individual nitramines. From the relationship between the E_dr and D² values it was found that the increasing performance of the studied nitramines and plastic explosives is connected with the decrease in their impact sensitivity. Also specified are the approximate linear dependences between the peak temperatures of exothermic decomposition of all the explosives studied and their ignition temperatures, T_ig, or critical temperatures, T_c; these dependences were applied to prediction of T_ig and T_c of both the studied plastic explosives and some of the nitramines.     

基于光微热量-荧光光谱联用技术研究光催化热力学和动力学的温度效应

利用光微热量-荧光光谱联用技术,对光催化过程的热谱和光谱信息同步监测,获取了五个温度下,g-C_3N_4@Ag@Ag_3PO_4光催化降解罗丹明B的原位热动力学、光谱动力学信息,探究了温度对相关参数的影响。结果表明,催化降解反应分为三个阶段:(i)污染物和催化剂的光响应过程;(ii)光响应吸热和污染物降解放热的竞争过程;(iii)保持稳定的放热率。吸热和放热的竞争过程符合一级动力学,降解速率随着温度的升高而增大;稳定放热阶段为拟零级反应,在283.15 K、288.15 K、293.15 K、298.15 K、303.15 K下的放热速率分别为0.4668±0.3875μJ·s~(-1)、0.5314±0.3379μJ·s~(-1)、0.5064±0.3234μJ·s~(-1)、0.5328±0.3377μJ·s~(-1)、0.5762±0.3452μJ·s~(-1)。本研究为探究光催化过程的原位热力学、热动力学及光谱信息及机理的推测提供科学依据。     

计时电量法求NiCl2(bpy)3在DMF中的扩散系数和速率常数

讨论了NiCl₂(bpy)₃(bpy：2,2-联吡啶)在DMF中的电化学行为. 控制电位使电极过程处于扩散控制下, 采用计时电量法求得了29 ℃时NiCl₂(bpy)₃在DMF中的扩散系数为5.99×10^－6 cm²•s^-1, 不同温度下的扩散系数随温度升高而增大. 选择合适的电极电位, 使电极过程处于扩散和电化学混合控制下, 采用计时电量法求得了不同电极电位下的反应速率常数k_f, 以及不同温度下的标准速率常数k⁰, 求得了表观活化能为14.4 kJ•mol^-1.